Recommended

Lubricants
PART LUBRICANT
• Ball bearings • Medium-weight bike grease
• Bottom bracket spindle • Medium-weight bike grease (do not lubricate square-
taper spindles unless directed to by the crankarm
manufacturer)
• Brake cable • Aerosol solvent to flush housing; if desired, lubricate
using a lightweight oil
• Brake pivot • Medium-weight bike grease or Teflon-based oil
• Brake spring • Medium-weight bike grease
• Chain • Chain lubricant of your choice; there are lots out there
for different conditions
• Derailleur pivots • Teflon-based oil
• Internal gear hubs • Lightweight machine oil with no particulate additives
• Seatpost (steel or aluminum frame • Medium-weight bike grease
and/or seatpost)
• Seatpost (carbon fiber frame with any • Assembly compound (a suspension of microscopic
material seatpost; carbon fiber seatpost plastic beads in a nonpetroleum grease that enhances
with any material frame) grip between clamped parts without affecting the
carbon or resin)
• Seatposts (titanium frame with steel, • Anti-seize compound
aluminum, or titanium seatpost; titanium
seatpost with steel, aluminum, or
titanium frame)
• Stem (quill type) • Medium-weight bike grease; substitute anti-seize
compound if any titanium component is involved
• Stem (threadless type) • Nothing
• Threads • White lithium grease, medium-weight bike grease,
anti-seize compound, or threadlocking compound,
depending on the application